Grid casting machine



June l6, 1942. A. c. YERKEY 2,286,527

GRID CASTING MACHINE Filed April 22, '1940 L@ 5m Mza, @m mywm,

Patented June 16, 1942 `.2,286,522 GRID CASTING MACHINE Alvy Anna

C. Yerkey, deceased, late of Chicago, Ill., by C. Yerkey, executrix, Maywood, Ill.

Application April 22, 1940, Serial No. 331,052.

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a grid casting machine and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a semi-automatic grid casting machine by which molds may be filled and removed by a single operator, the filling of the molds being automatic. A further object is to provide a grid casting machine of simple and effective construction by which molds may be automatically filled and the grids removed by an operator, the mold support being shaken or agitated at predetermined intervals. A further object is to provide a grid casting machine equipped with a rotatable table and with means for disconnecting the same to render the same stationary. A further object is to provide a machine which may be used as a grid casting machine or, alternatively, as a burning table, a change of spur gearing being made possible table for the burning operation. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment, by the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 represents a side View in elevation of apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a broken detail and part sectional view showing the clutch structure employed; and Fig. 3, a top plan broken and sectional view of the clutch handle structure employed.

In the illustration given, A designates a supporting frame consisting of a plurality of standards or legs I0. Supported upon the top of the legs I is a circular anti-friction bearing plate II. Plate II supports a ball race I2 equipped with anti-friction balls. Upon the bearings I2 is supported a circular plate I3 fixed to the mold table I4. A shaft I5 supported centrally upon the circular table I4 supports a grid rack or platform I6 upon which finished grids may be stacked. The table I4 is provided on its underside and at spaced distances with a number of racks I1. The teeth of the racks I1 extend downwardly and are adapted to be engaged by a roller I8 supported upon a bracket I9 on frame I0. The engagement of the roller I8 with the rack teeth produces a vibration or jarring of the table at desired intervals.

Any suitable means for rotating the table I4 may be employed. In the illustration given, there is provided a vertical drive shaft which is fixed to the table I4 and which extends downwardly through the guides 2l and 22, the lower end of the shaft being supported within the cross for the reduction of the speed of the -beam 23 carried by the frame Ill.

provided with a pin 24, securing it to a platev K on shaft 35.

Shaft 20 is member 25, the plate being supported upon the anti-friction bearing members 26. At its lower end, the shaft 20 is equipped with a worm gear 21.

The source of power is the motor 28 supported upon the frame and driving-a pulley 29 equipped with a safety flange. The belt 30 leads from pulley 23 to a second pulley 3l. Pulley 3|, which is fixed to a shaft 32, drives a gear 33, also fixed to shaft 32. Gear 33 meshes with gear 34, which is fixed to drive shaft 35. The shaft 35 is supported by the frame by means of the straps 33 which are shown more clearly in Fig. 2. Shaft 35 is equipped at one end with a pinion 31 which meshes with gear 38 fixed to the worm shaftg39. The worm 40 carried by shaft 39 is adapted to be brought into mesh with the worm gear 21 to rotate the shaft 20.

The worm 40, together with its shaft 39, is supported upon a frame 4| pivotally mounted Bushings 42 are pressed tight into the swivel and swungV in the split bearings 36, allowing the shaft to rotate inside.

The casting 4I is provided with an inwardly extending lever arm 43 to the end of which is secured a clutch rod 44. The upper end of the rod 44 is pivotally connected to the end of a lever 45 pivotally mounted on the shaft 46. The opposite end of the lever 45 is extended to form a handle 4l. As shown more clearly in Figs. 1 and 3, the handle lever 4l is equipped with a latch bar 48 equipped with a locking plunger 43 adapted to extend through a recess in handle 'lever'll'i and in the fixed frame member 53.

There are two locking recesses 5I within the frame member 59 adapted to receive the plunger 49. The latch bar 48 is pivotally mounted upon the pivot member 52 and is normally urged into engaging position by the spring 53.

In normal operation, the table It supports four or more molds. In the illustration given, a single mold 54 is shown supported upon the table I4. The mold is equipped with the usual locking frame 55 adapted to engage cams (not shown) for maintaining the mold parts in position. At the outer end of the locking frame 55 is a cam extension 56 adapted to engage and control arm 5l mounted upon a pouring device, such as illustrated in Patent No. 2,135,245, which issued November 1, 1938. Thus, when the rotation of the table brings the cam member 56 into engagement with the lever 51, the pouring device operates automatically to flll the mold.

Operation In the operation of the device, when it is desired to rotate the table I4, the operator releases the latch bar 48 from engagement with one of the recesses 5| and presses the handle bar 41 downwardly so as to swing the clutch rod 44 upwardly. Upward movement of the bar 44 causes the arm 43 to swing upwardly and the pivotally mounted frame 4I to swing downwardly, thus bringing the worm 4I) into engagement with the worm gear 21. The latch bar 48 is then released so as to bring the plunger 49 into engagement with one of the locking recesses 5|, thus locking the handle in the position in which the Worm member 43 is in engagement with the Worm gear 2'1. In this position, the motor drives the pulley 29 and pulley 3|. The belt 33 drives the wheel 34 on shaft 35 and through shaft '35, pinion gear 31, spur gear 38, and shaft 39, the worm 40. The worm gear 27 is thus rotated and shaft 20f4rotates with it. The ltable I4'carrying the molds is thus rotated. As each mold is brought into alignment with the pouring control lever 5-1, the cam carried by the bracket 55 swings the control lever and causes the mold to be automatically lled. In the filling position, or in any other suitable position, the moldY is jarred by the engagement of roller I8- with the rack II, thus causing the molten metal to follow the cavities within the mold. Duri-ng subsequent rota-tion of the table I4, the molds are opened and the grids removed, theA grids being stacked usually upon the platform IG.

When it is desired toY use the table |4 as a burning table, the molds are removed and the spur gears changed so as to reduce the speed of rotation. Thus, a slowly moving table is provided for the burning operation.

In the usual operation, the molds are heated prior to the pouring operation so as to be eifective in producing a good owof the liquid within the cavities.

If desired, a casing wall may be placedaround the standards |.0 so as to completely enclose the working parts which have been described.

With the relatively wide plates I and I3- illustrated, it will be noted that the table I4 may be readily jarred or jolted by the engagement ofV the roller I8 with one of the racks I'I without interfering with the rotation of. the table.

The operation is substantially automatic, only one operator being required for the removal of the castings.

While in the foregoing specification, certain details have been set forth as vdesirable and for the purpose of illustratiom it will be understood that such details may be modied widely without departing from the spirit of the invention.

a table rotatably mounted on said frame, saidtable being adapted to support a plurality of molds, a member rigidly mounted on said table, a second member rigidly mounted on said frame and adapted to engage first-mentioned member,

one ofthe members being equipped with an irregular surface for engaging the other member when the table is rotated whereby rotation of the table Vand the engagementof the members produces a shaking of the table.

3. A grid casting machine comprising a frame, a table supporting plate carried by said frame, a circular-series of anti-friction bea-rings carriedby said plate adjacentthe periphery thereof, a table Yrotatably mounted upon said bearings, said table being arranged to permit vertical reciprocating motionV thereof, a vertical shaft fl-xeclto said table and mounted for rotation, meansl for rotating saidvertical sha-ft, a roller member, amember equippedv with an irregular surface for engaging the roller member, oneof said members being flxedly mounted on the frame and the other member being lxedly mounted on the tablewith the irregular surface of the second member inengagement with the roller member whereby ,rotation lof the table and the engagement of the members produces a shaking of the table;`

4. A grid casting machine comprising a frame, a table rotatably mounted on said frame', said table being adapted to support a plurality of molds, means for rotating said table, a rack member, a roller member, one of said members being, rigidlymountedon said tableand the other of said' members beingrigidly mounted on vsaid frame with theiirregular surface of the rack member being; adaptedA to `be brought into engagement with the roller member upon rota-4 tion ofthe.v table .Wherebyrotation of the table andthe engagementof. themembers produces a shakingof vthe table;v v

vvANNA c; YERKEY, Ezcecutrz. of the VEstate of Alvy C. Yerlcey,

.lteceasedV y 

